Aspirin or acetylsalicylic acid is a well-known medicine, developed at the end of the 19th century, used to alleviate mild to moderate pain such as a headache or backpain. It is also used for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, whilst today it is common to buy a box of aspirin at low cost that was not always the case.

This blog is part of our 60th anniversary series, tying the six decades of BEUC’s existence to current day concerns. This one focuses on the 1960s. For more, delve into our anniversary booklet.

This explains why BEUC members did the first joint test (‘’Euro-Tests’’) one year after the organisation was born in 1962 on aspirin prices. The results published in 1964 showed that the prices paid by consumers in different countries varied significantly. This comparative study got a lot of traction, encouraging BEUC to set up a specific fund to support similar tests on other consumer goods.

Sixty years later, our members still do joint tests through the International Consumer Research and Testing consortium (ICRT) and BEUC remains committed to the principle of consumers having fair access to medicines. We continue working on this topic because, whilst there have been important advances in EU consumer and health policy over the years, the prices of new medicines are skyrocketing and people face barriers to get affordable access. And the cost-of-living crisis we are experiencing makes it all the more important for our medicines to stay affordable because people will look to cut their expenses where possible.

Problems consumers face

For example, medicines approved by the European Medicines Agency for serious diseases such as cancer are not marketed in all EU Member States and if they do, there might be shortages. Surveysconducted by five BEUC members in 2019 and 2020 show that drug shortages are common and in almost all cases the medicine was prescribed, which indicates it was deemed essential or even lifesaving.

In addition, some medicine prices are astronomical, as some testimonialsshow. Another challenge healthcare faces is that new medicines do not always bring meaningful benefits to consumers. This is a major problem for those patients for which there is no satisfactory treatment available for their condition.

Change needed through EU legislation

We expect more from the pharma industry. Investments in drug development should be well-aligned with public health needs and medicines be available to all of us without hamstringing healthcare budgets. On the positive side of things, the European Commission has announced a revision of the EU general pharmaceutical legislation by the end of the year, which is an opportunity to modify certain policies so that people get new and better treatments and greater access to medicines across the EU. To get there, the revised legislation must:

  1. Require drug developers to submit to regulators stronger evidence on the efficacy of new medicines.
  2. Oblige companies to develop drug shortage prevention plans and hold some safety stocks on medicines, so consumers continue having access to medicines even when there are some supply problems.
  3. Mandate companies that have a medicine approved by the EMA to file for pricing and reimbursement in all Member States or give licenses to generic companies, so they can make these medicines available to patients.
  4. Ensure that intellectual property incentives for drug development go together with safeguards to prevent excessive prices and profits.
  5. Make it easier for generics and biosimilars to enter the market as soon as the patent on a medicine expires.

Just as the organisation did 60 years ago with the Aspirin case, BEUC will continue working closely with members to ensure equitable access to safe, effective, and affordable medicines in Europe. This is an indispensable requirement to improve people’s well-being regardless of where they live.

More details on these and other recommendations are available on our publication ‘Addressing Barriers for consumers to access to medicines in the EU.’

Posted by Monique Goyens